Wrench



March 13, 1928. 1,662,413

D. M. BRIGHT WRENCH Original Filed July 5, 1923 E INYE HTOR' D-MB QWPatented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STA oar-lice.

warms.

Application filed July 5,1923, Serial Nd; 649',74=1. Renewed November 281927.

' the object to be rotated; and an object'of the invention is to providea wrench whichhas a comparatively large range and which can be quickly(XClJIIStBCl to grip the object on which the chain applied and which isconstructed such that the gripped chain will exert a uniform pressure onthe periphery of the object gripped.

A further object is to construct the chain links such that they will notslip on the gripped object, and further such that the head of the handleor lever associated with the chain will positively catch the chain andhave a considerable bearing thereon.

A further object is to construct the various parts such that they can bereadily assembled and at a reasonable cost.

With the above more important objects in View the invention consistsessentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinaftermore particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claim,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which: a

Fig. 1 is a side view of the wrench and showing it gripping a pipe,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the wrench,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the links,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through the head of thelever and through the master links, and Fig. 5 is a face view of one ofthe split rings.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several figures.

The handle or lever 1 of the wrench is of suitable length and strengthand is preferably of drop-forged steel and it is shaped to give aconvenient hand grip. One end thereof is constructed to form a head 2,the head being provided with facial side openings 3 and 4, which containcentrally positioned axially alined pivot pins 5 and 6 which in thepresent instance are shown as integrally formed with the head. On thepins I mount pivotally similar right and left master links 7 and 8 whichare held in place by split rings 9 and 10 which pass over the ends ofthe pins and spring into grooves 11 and 12 surrounding the outer ends ofthe pins. This connection'is a convenient one,

but obviously I would: notdesire to be rim .ited to such' an"arrangement, as any wellknown mechanical means could. be employed toretain the links; on the pins, Further,

while the pins have been shown as inte grally cast, a single pin or boltpassing throughthe-head could be substituted without departing from thespirit of the invention. i

It will be observed that the head is provided with shoulders 13* and"14' which.- limit the swinging movement of the master links. To thefreeend of the master 'links I connect pivotally: by' means ofawstelpin1'5, a length of. chain 16', which is formed from a plurality oflengthwise extending staggered alternated rows of similar links 17 thelinks being connected together by steel pivot pins 17. The pin at thefree end of the chain carries pivotally an end loop 18 of steel wire.The links of the chain are all formed in the manner best shown in Fig.3, where it will be observed that the inner or grabbing edge of the linkis constructed to pro,

vide a pair of spaced legs or foot pieces 19 andv 20, and the outer oropposite edgeof the link is fitted centrally with a comparatively deepcross groove or channel 21 which has the side walls thereof concentricto the link connecting pins and the base thereof semicircular.

When the wrench is in use the chain is passed around the object, such-asa pipe 22 to be gripped, and the free end of the chain carrying the loop18 is passed between the master links, as best shown in Fig. 1. The loop18 is provided for convenience in passing the end of the chain betweenthe master links. a

Thehead of the lever is provided at the one side with a plurality ofsimilar teeth 23 and at the other side with a single toothQ l. The saidteeth are relatively arranged, as

shown best in Fig. 1, where it will. be observed that the teeth 23 areadapted in the swinging of the lever to enter the grooves or channels21, it being here pointed out that when the chain links are assembledthey. form continuous equi-spaced cross channels at the outer side ofthe chain. It will be obvious, in referring to Fig. 1, that if the lowerend of the lever be swung to the left the teeth 23 will act to draw thechain tightly around the pipe or such like object and that 110 the footpieces of the tightened chain will effectively grip the pipe, preventingslipping. The pressure is evenly distributed around the pipe so thatthere is no possibility of it being collapsed or damaged. Particularnotice is to be taken of the fact that the teeth 23 are compartivelylong and that as each tooth comes into commission it has a bearing forits full length in the cross channel formed in the outer face of thechain. This materially increases the strength of the wrench and gives nopossibility of slipping when the wrench being tightened up.

The wrench can be quickly released from the gripped object as the tooth2i will enter a groove in the chain and quickly expel the end of thechain from between the master links.

The wrench can he made in several sizes, the smaller size having thechain of a length such that it will accommodate objects ranging up to,say, six inches in diameter. What I claim as my invention is:

A wrench comprising a handle having a circular or segmental head formedat one end thereof, master links pivoted at one end centrally to theopposite sides of the head, the peripheral portion of the head lyingbetween the said links being provided with a series of teeth arrangedconcentric to the head. and a chain formed from a plnrality oflengthwise extending staggered pivotally connected alternated rows ofsimilar links having one of the terminal rows of links pivotall attachedto the free extremities of the master link. each link of said chainhaving the ends thereof semicircular and being provided on the innersides with spaced gripping projections and at the outer sides with across channel, the side walls of which are curved continuous with andconcentric with the ends of the link, the said cross channels of theassembled links being adapted to receive and make rolling contact withthe teeth of the head.

Signed at Vinnipeg, this 18th day of April 1923.

DAVID MUSSEN BRIGHT.

